Laurie took her by the hand and led her across the garden, nearer to the end of the property where the grass grew longer and the flowers were wilder. He stopped and let Jo undo the buttons on his jacket smiling at her serious face for the task.

"Jo, you have no idea how long I've waited." But she smiled back, "Oh I think you told me once before how you felt. So I'd say seven or so years I've known. Bless me, seven years! So much has happened and so much has gone." Jo's look turned sad and Laurie held her close.

"So it has! But see how it all turns out? I have you." And for all Jo's sorrow over Beth, Amy and Fritz, Laurie's eyes held her whole future of hopes and love. Not intending to let the moment fall into tears, either of sadness or joy, Laurie lifted his hand under her chin, moving his face near enough to kiss her. "I love you Jo."

Jo's lids slid shut and she closed the small distance, kissing his warm lips and sighing with relief. This was how things were meant to be.

Laurie's hand move down her back, following the lines made by the stitching of her dress, enjoying the way her shape was so different from Amy's. So perfect and fitting. He finally stopped at her waist, crossing them over to pull his arms about her, tugging her body flush against his.

Jo let her fingers run through the dark curly hair she had brushed and stroked for many years, but never quite with so much intention, for Jo quickly saw the way Laurie would shiver when her nails grazed his scalp. Her fingers paused when she felt his hands sneak around to the front of her dress and she looked up into his black eyes which never seemed so dark.

Quickly she nodded and repositioned her hands, unbuttoning as swiftly as her suddenly clumsy fingers could while he undid her dress with more grace and patience. Slowly she felt her skin cool, the heavy fabric of her dress removed and she shrugged the cloth off, looking up to see Laurie's reaction.

He too stood there, vest, jacket, and tie gone, shirt hanging open as he indiscreetly gaped at Jo's body. Just as he supposed since he saw her on her birthday morning, she was as slender as a willow and without the harsh angles he'd first known her to have. Thoughtfully he shuffled forward, offering his arms as she shuddered in the wind, her undergarments not as thick as she needed in the open air.

Jo laughed a little at the change in his embrace, feeling it much like the hug of the boy instead of his new lover-like hold. "You've grown up so much," she clasped him tighter to her, knowing that their almost bare fronts were touching.

Laurie's hands moved down her back again, the lowest they'd previously gone, "So have you."

…

Laurie hit the ground with a thud, admiring Jo's sudden ability to balance, her lips still firmly against his and body sprawled on top. She paused for breath and laughed when he rolled them over, lowering his head to her neck.

"Teddy," she sighed and felt his pleasure for the way she spoke his name. No one said it quite like her and he loved it, not regretting giving her exclusive rights to use it. Amy never had enough feeling when she called him and "my lord" abruptly seemed so cold to him. No, Jo's name for him was best by far.

Their clothes were gone and Jo was glad, for her skin seemed to ignite with Laurie's ministrations and she felt it was better than any dream, his hands so much warmer and real than she could've guessed. She gasped slightly as his mouth found her skin, kissing and pressing against it so unlike her husband that her body immediately wanted to experience more.

…

"Jo," Laurie used her name, not knowing what to say to fill the silence after that. Her hand was stroking his cheek and it paused with his voice, the same unknowing look on her face telling him all he needed. Ready to apologise, he swallowed and closed his eyes, savouring the feel of her fingers on his face, believing that it might possibly be the last he felt of her.

"No," Jo spoke quickly, presuming his change in expression. She shifted, her body moving to rest over his, "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize, to know love. I tricked myself out of its true meaning and I've hurt so many people with my slowness. Would you forgive your stupid Jo?"

Laurie looked into her eyes and wondered if she would ever really forgive herself, for he would never reproach her. She still had so much to learn about his love. "If you'll forgive your boy for giving up on you?"

Jo grinned lopsidedly, "I think asking three times and getting unfeeling replies has quite absolved you from any misdemeanors. You silly boy!" she patted him lightly, "I love you so much, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you now." And Laurie thought that maybe she really did learn more about love than he had believed.

"Well than my dear," he wrapped his arms about her bare waist and raised his eyebrows, "tell me what you think." And he kissed her, enticing her lips, hips and arms forward, to anchor themselves against his, tugging and teasing her mouth and body till she groaned and sighed with pleasure in time with him.

"Laurie," she said between breaths, "that was… more than I imagined."